I think something like this already exists in the U.S. It's called the Earned Income Tax Credit. Low income people may get a tax credit that could result in a bigger refund. Effectively, some people are getting money they woudln't be getting without working. It makes a lot of sense, imo.
The U.S. Government also pays farmers not to grow crops! See, e.g., the Conservation Reserve Program (https://www.fsa.usda.gov/programs-and-services/conservation-...).
And Electric PUCs pay crypto miners not to mine, tens of millions of dollars, more than what they earn from mining.
Have you got a source for this?